About Us
The pride of Susan Parr Travel is the people. Our goal is to make sure that our clients' dream vacations always come true! We want to earn customer loyalty and solid relationships. We ensure that everyone associated with us is committed to delivering a standard of service that is unmatched by any in the industry.
How We Began...
In 1994, against the advice of many, Susan Parr Travel opened its doors in Port Angeles, WA. The new travel agency was facing competition from 6 other agencies, already well established in the small town. Susan started the company with only herself and one other agent, Barbara Hanify, who although retired, is still working at Susan Parr Travel. Within a week, Susan hired another employee who, for 2 months, worked for free. The neighboring town of Sequim had 5 travel agencies, Port Angeles now had 7.
Business was slow and times were tough. New challenges were beginning to emerge. The airlines stopped paying commissions to travel agents, the internet "travel" sites were the new craze and people started to make their own travel arrangements. The business outlook for travel agencies was grave. Then the unimaginable happened. The most horrific tragedy in United States history occurred on Sep 11th 2001. Of the 12 Travel Agencies in the area, only 3 were able to stay in business after 9/11. Susan Parr Travel was one of them.
Susan Parr Travel, Inc., in the face of adversity, persevered and has become the #1 Travel Agency in the area for the past 25 years and is the last remaining full service travel agency on the Olympic Peninsula.
There are now 7 employees working at Susan Parr Travel, and we have recently re-located to a new, larger office where the business continues to flourish. At Susan Parr Travel we know that the key reason we were able to survive in such competitive times is because of our practice of "Going the Extra Mile" for all our clients.
Business was slow and times were tough. New challenges were beginning to emerge. The airlines stopped paying commissions to travel agents, the internet "travel" sites were the new craze and people started to make their own travel arrangements. The business outlook for travel agencies was grave. Then the unimaginable happened. The most horrific tragedy in United States history occurred on Sep 11th 2001. Of the 12 Travel Agencies in the area, only 3 were able to stay in business after 9/11. Susan Parr Travel was one of them.
Susan Parr Travel, Inc., in the face of adversity, persevered and has become the #1 Travel Agency in the area for the past 25 years and is the last remaining full service travel agency on the Olympic Peninsula.
There are now 7 employees working at Susan Parr Travel, and we have recently re-located to a new, larger office where the business continues to flourish. At Susan Parr Travel we know that the key reason we were able to survive in such competitive times is because of our practice of "Going the Extra Mile" for all our clients.
The Susan Parr People
Meet the travel professionals who will make your trip your most memorable ever!
Susan Parr
CTC, MCC
Email
Susan was bitten by the travel bug when she was in high school. All it took was being chosen by the local rotary club to be an exchange student to Australia. Within a year after returning, Susan began working for a travel agency, and the rest is history. Ten years later she opened Susan Parr Travel. That was June 1987.
Susan won the first American Society of Travel Agents "extra mile" award for her work with adoptive families. Susan and her thirteen-year-old son John brought two toddlers to the U.S. from Ethiopia under extremely difficult conditions, and was honored for her accomplishments.
Susan prides herself on her expertise in all aspects of travel and trains her consultants to be "the best in the world" at what they do. Having traveled extensively, she knows what it takes to get from here to there and back again. Susan books all aspects of travel but excels at doing Custom Travel Packages to Exotic Destinations. Best of all, she loves what she does and it shows.
Susan's third loves (son John is first) are her Bernese Mountain Dogs, Gandalf, Dallas & Nevada.. In her spare time, she is off to dog shows doing competition obedience, drafting and confirmation with two of the. When not at dog shows, she is usually working on her small farm doing various chores that never seem to go away, or volunteering her time on various community projects.
CTC, MCC
Susan was bitten by the travel bug when she was in high school. All it took was being chosen by the local rotary club to be an exchange student to Australia. Within a year after returning, Susan began working for a travel agency, and the rest is history. Ten years later she opened Susan Parr Travel. That was June 1987.
Susan won the first American Society of Travel Agents "extra mile" award for her work with adoptive families. Susan and her thirteen-year-old son John brought two toddlers to the U.S. from Ethiopia under extremely difficult conditions, and was honored for her accomplishments.
Susan prides herself on her expertise in all aspects of travel and trains her consultants to be "the best in the world" at what they do. Having traveled extensively, she knows what it takes to get from here to there and back again. Susan books all aspects of travel but excels at doing Custom Travel Packages to Exotic Destinations. Best of all, she loves what she does and it shows.
Susan's third loves (son John is first) are her Bernese Mountain Dogs, Gandalf, Dallas & Nevada.. In her spare time, she is off to dog shows doing competition obedience, drafting and confirmation with two of the. When not at dog shows, she is usually working on her small farm doing various chores that never seem to go away, or volunteering her time on various community projects.
Kathy Carver
International Adoption Travel Specialist
Email
Kathy has been with Susan Parr Travel for ten years. She specializes in Adoption Travel and is very passionate and committed to assisting families making the special journey of international adoption.
Kathy likes to stay active and enjoys cooking, gardening, antiquing and traveling. She has lived in Los Angeles and New York before moving to the Olympic Peninsula. She has enjoyed traveling to Mexico, Hawaii, France and the Far East including Indonesia, Singapore and Malaysia. Kathy hopes to travel to Europe again someday to visit Switzerland and Italy.
International Adoption Travel Specialist
Kathy has been with Susan Parr Travel for ten years. She specializes in Adoption Travel and is very passionate and committed to assisting families making the special journey of international adoption.
Kathy likes to stay active and enjoys cooking, gardening, antiquing and traveling. She has lived in Los Angeles and New York before moving to the Olympic Peninsula. She has enjoyed traveling to Mexico, Hawaii, France and the Far East including Indonesia, Singapore and Malaysia. Kathy hopes to travel to Europe again someday to visit Switzerland and Italy.
Barbara Hanify
Travel Consultant
Email: bhanify@susanparrtravel.com
When we need to know something in the agency we go to Barbara. With over 27 years in the travel industry and with Susan Parr Travel since day one, she has seen just about all of it. Where she really shines though is when you get to ask her about anything international. Her eyes really light up when you have a question about small ship cruising, especially Windstar, and European river cruising. Barbara is a walking encyclopedia of travel information.
She and husband Larry delight in going to Bluegrass music concerts and when she is not traveling or listening to Bluegrass she can be found at her hobby quilting. Larry and Barbara also spend a lot of time working within their church group on community projects.
Travel Consultant
Email: bhanify@susanparrtravel.com
When we need to know something in the agency we go to Barbara. With over 27 years in the travel industry and with Susan Parr Travel since day one, she has seen just about all of it. Where she really shines though is when you get to ask her about anything international. Her eyes really light up when you have a question about small ship cruising, especially Windstar, and European river cruising. Barbara is a walking encyclopedia of travel information.
She and husband Larry delight in going to Bluegrass music concerts and when she is not traveling or listening to Bluegrass she can be found at her hobby quilting. Larry and Barbara also spend a lot of time working within their church group on community projects.
Bill Thomas
Marketing & Training
Email
Bill Thomas started his first business and hired his first employees when he was fourteen years old. He served four terms as Mayor of Sequim Washington and has been involved in the travel business for fifteen years.
Bill is an incurable adventurer and a crusader for travelers. He believes that seeing the world is supposed to be fun, not work, and the hours we spend venturing afar, should be filled with joy and great memories; like bungee jumping in New Zealand. He is also a "foodie" and usually describes his travels with the great meals he has eaten in exotic places.
The business end of travel is his forte and he works to keep the wheels turning at the agency.
Marketing & Training
Bill Thomas started his first business and hired his first employees when he was fourteen years old. He served four terms as Mayor of Sequim Washington and has been involved in the travel business for fifteen years.
Bill is an incurable adventurer and a crusader for travelers. He believes that seeing the world is supposed to be fun, not work, and the hours we spend venturing afar, should be filled with joy and great memories; like bungee jumping in New Zealand. He is also a "foodie" and usually describes his travels with the great meals he has eaten in exotic places.
The business end of travel is his forte and he works to keep the wheels turning at the agency.
Lindsey Veenema
Travel Consultant
Email
Lindsey joined our staff in January of 2016 eager to learn how to be a travel agent. Lindsey used to work for Princess Cruise Lines in their Shore Excursion Department. She moved to Port Angeles from Salt Lake City and spent time working at the Chamber of Commerce but wanted to be able to do more than just helping tourists enjoy the peninsula. We are delighted with how fast she is progressing and learning the world and all it has to offer. Lindsey enjoys selling Disneyland and Cruises.
Lindsey joined our staff in January of 2016 eager to learn how to be a travel agent. Lindsey used to work for Princess Cruise Lines in their Shore Excursion Department. She moved to Port Angeles from Salt Lake City and spent time working at the Chamber of Commerce but wanted to be able to do more than just helping tourists enjoy the peninsula. We are delighted with how fast she is progressing and learning the world and all it has to offer. Lindsey enjoys selling Disneyland and Cruises.